Pearls are found in clams, oysters and mollusks. Mikimoto pearls are named after a Japanese entrepreneur who founded an oyster farm and introduced a grading system for pearls.
How to buy Mikomoto pearls?
Mikomoto pearls are extremely high quality ones. They are set in jewellery made of 18k platinum or gold. There are various varieties of these pearls available. The main ones include:
- Akoya pearls are small sized shiny spherical pearls.
- South Sea pearls are white, gleaming and big in size.
- The black coloured South Sea pearls are sparkly and large.
- The golden coloured South Sea pearls are extremely valuable.
- The pinkish Conch pearls are rare and hence very pricey.
- The irregular shaped Baroque pearls look fabulous in jewellery pieces.
Factors to consider while buying Mikomoto pearls
Mikomoto pearls are of high quality. However while buying these pearls, it is important to consider a few critical factors. You can learn all about these aspects by visiting pearlsonly.com. The website provides all the relevant information about Mikomoto pearls and also on other types of cultured pearls.
While buying these pearls, it is important to consider their diameter, which may range between 6.5mm to 7.5mm. The colour and the translucent overtones are important aspects which may deserve attention. It is also advisable to choose pearls that have smooth surfaces and good reflective capabilities.
While buying pearls, some of the aspects affecting their prices are their origin, water type, nacre, and mollusk may also be considered. Mikomoto pearls are graded on the basis of the AAA grading system. The pearls of grade A1 are generally considered to be of the best quality.
Cultured pearls are the response of the shell to a tissue implant. A tiny piece of mantle tissue (called a graft) from a donor shell is transplanted into a recipient shell, causing a pearl sac to form into which the tissue precipitates calcium carbonate. There are a number of methods for producing cultured pearls: using freshwater or seawater shells, transplanting the graft into the mantle or into the gonad, and adding a spherical bead as a nucleus. Most saltwater cultured pearls are grown with beads. Tradenames of cultured pearls are Akoya, white or golden South sea, and black Tahitian. Most beadless cultured pearls are mantle-grown in freshwater shells in China, and are known as freshwater cultured pearls. When a cultured pearl with a bead nucleus is X-rayed, it reveals a different structure to that of a natural pearl (see diagram). A beaded cultured pearl shows a solid center with no concentric growth rings, whereas a natural pearl shows a series of concentric growth rings. A beadless cultured pearl (whether of freshwater or saltwater origin) may show growth rings, but also a complex central cavity, witness of the first precipitation of the young pearl sac.
You can choose from amongst a large variety of jewellery made of Mikomoto pearls. The various jewellery options include pearl strands, necklaces, earrings and many more. However, while buying such jewellery, it is important to take into account certain critical factors.